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CHAPTER XVIII. 



Start for Myolones. — Account of the road. — Effect of the Earth- 

 quake. — Dangerous passage. — Ford the Gindebal wans. — 

 Dubdubhee. — Reach Myolones. — Remarks upon taking posses- 

 sion of the land. 



August 10 th. — It had rained very heavily all night, 

 and as the sky was covered with clouds, I did not 

 feel inclined to go to Myolones. Walderheros, 

 however, had set his mind upon it, and as the ride 

 was a very short one, and might, perhaps, be of 

 service in many respects, I at last consented. 

 Walderheros had the mule ready before I could 

 change my mind, and giving some precautions to 

 Wallata Gabriel to look after everything well whilst 

 we were away, and to let no one enter the house 

 upon any pretence, off we started, Goodaloo running 

 before, with the skin containing my bed-clothes upon 

 his head, and Walderheros following slowly after 

 me, having in special charge the very precious bottle 

 of gunpowder. 



We proceeded along the narrow arid winding 

 path, that leads down the steep western slope of 

 the rock of Aliu Amba. Here the road is deeply 

 worn in the hard stone, so as to form a kind of 



